Breath of Life

by Sara Marion

  She walked up to the bar and set her purse up on the counter. The bartender immediately came over to her flashing his winning smile. Paxton smiled back at him knowing he was playing it up already for a good tip.

  “What can I get ya?” He had a southern drawl.

  “Rum and coke.” She didn’t have to shout yet as the music wasn’t blaring.

  He turned and grabbed a glass, filled it with ice and started pouring. She watched his fluid movements behind the bar. Paxton wondered how easy it was to be a bartender. She needed to find something. She couldn’t bear going back to the hospital yet, too many memories were in those walls.

  “Here you go, sweetie. $3.50.”

  Paxton gave him a five then dumped the change in his tip jar. He grinned and went on his merry way. Paxton turned and went to the back of the bar. There were several picnic tables back there for patrons to sit at. She walked out and turned to her right to go by Rusty’s Outback.

  “Paxton?” A voice came from beside her. She turned and saw Jonathan.

  “Hey! What are you doing here?” She gave him a hug.

  “Out to blow some steam. Been stressful at the hospital lately.”

  Paxton scrunched her nose knowing exactly how those weeks went. “Well are you off tomorrow then?”

  “Yes, I just came to grab a few drinks and head home, then I saw you. You look amazing.” His eyes swept the length of her. Paxton blushed.

  “Thanks.”

  He took a step closer. “Meeting someone?”

  “No, out by myself. I needed to get out of the house.”

  The music suddenly started blaring.

  “I see. Mind if I joined you?” He leaned in to make sure she heard. Paxton looked around and noticed people came earlier than she thought.

  “I would love the company,” she smiled. The grin broke out on Jonathan’s face.

  “Let me grab a drink.”

  “Meet you at the picnic table.” She nodded her head over at the table next to the bar.

  Paxton noticed how much older he seemed in that moment. He was really only a few years older than her but he was really starting to age. She wondered if it was because of the stress from the hospital. Running the hospital board could not be an easy job. He grew a goatee out and several gray hairs began to poke through the dark hair. He was half Mexican so he tanned skin looked even more of a golden tone under the neon lights. His hazel eyes stood out against his skin and as he leaned on the bar she could see the toned muscles of his arm. She let her eyes travel down his body. He wore a tight fitting grey shirt that left little to the imagination. His jeans hugged him and flared at the knee into a boot cut. He was wearing his cowboy boots. He looked delicious standing at the bar. Paxton averted her gaze when her thoughts drifted that way. She didn’t know what came over her. She took a long drink from the one she had been untouched since she ordered it.

  “Slow down there Speedy Gonzales.” Jonathan’s voice was suddenly in her ear. She turned and his face was close to his. He smiled and sat beside her. She returned his smile.

  “Sorry just need to relax a little. I figured this would do the trick.”

  “It will then you will be drunk faster than any college girl here,” he nudged her.

  Paxton and Jonathan fell into an easy conversation, only pausing to refill their drinks. Paxton was drinking faster than Jonathan but he didn’t say anything about it. She was thankful for that. She realized how much she missed her friend. He caught her up on the hospital gossip, who’s still there, new changes being made. He even told her he kept her position open. The board tried to get someone to fill it. They had excellent applicants apply but Jonathan had been the deciding vote on everyone and didn’t want to fill it.

  “Are you coming back?”

  “I don’t think I can. I’m a mental patient. I’m being seen after being released from a mental facility.” She stood to refill her drink. She needed something stronger.

  “Long Island, please.” The flashy-smiled bartender turned and began making the drink. Jonathan came up to the bar.

  “I think you should try to come back. I can help you come back.”

  “I was in a mental facility. I just can’t come back right.”

  “You aren’t a mental case. If you were, you wouldn’t be here now,” Jonathan countered.

  Paxton knew he was right. She may be able to go back if she could petition for her license or get the board behind her. She would probably need to be supervised for a probationary period.

  “I don’t think I can go back. It would be too much,” Paxton admitted. She wouldn’t be able to go into the O.R. without thinking about her last surgery. Paxton wanted her surgical career back but she couldn’t bring herself to go back in there.

  “Think about it,” Jonathan replied. Paxton couldn’t look at him. She didn’t want to see the hope in his eyes that she would return.

  “I will.”

  “Promise me you will really think about it.” Jonathan reached and tucked her hair behind her ear. She still refused to look at him. “Look at me and promise.”

  She slowly turned and faced him. “Promise.”

  “Enough serious talk,” he smiled. Paxton returned it and they settled into light conversation as Paxton drank her Long Island.

  “Let’s go do the dance district!” Paxton shouted once she finished the last drink Jonathan bought her. Jonathan knew she was feeling the alcohol. She hadn’t drank enough water to counter act it.

  “You cannot drive, I will take us.”

  “Good ‘cause I don’t have a car here,” she smiled and stood up.

  They walked out of the bar and down towards the parking lot by Burger King. Paxton kept bumping into him and giggling. Jonathan knew she was gone and probably wouldn’t make it much longer before she got sick. He had stopped drinking about an hour ago. Before then, he only had a couple beers. They climbed in the car and headed down to 3 Street where the dance bar was.

  Paxton sang along to the music and Jonathan stole glances at her. She started to remind him of the girl she used to be, the one that everyone loved. He had always had feelings for her since the day they met but he stayed out of the picture because Jack was a good friend of his. He didn’t want to mess with their relationship. Now that Jack is out of the picture, he wanted to make sure that he didn’t mess up the friendship he still had with both of them. He was stupid enough to almost ruin it last time but they were both drunk.

  He pulled into the parking garage and she climbed out quickly. “Where to?” He asked as he put his arm around her back to guide her towards the clubs.

  “Athens. It was Ella’s favorite place,” she said.

  Jonathan hesitated. He didn’t know if this was a good idea. She could lose it and who knows what would happen then. “What about somewhere else first?”

  “No, I want to go to Athens. Ella says it has the best music and dance floor.” She marched on towards the club.

  They walked about halfway down the street. Athens was right by the old Train Station that had been restored. Paxton provided her ID to the bouncer and walked in. Jonathan followed her after he got his ID back. She was already heading to the bar for another drink. Jonathan thought he may need a beer for this. He never really liked dancing. He had no rhythm and two left feet. He caught up to Paxton as she reached the bar. She ordered a couple shots, a crown and coke, and he added a beer to the end of it. She paid for them as the bartender set the drinks in front of them.

  “Here,” she said slamming one of the shots in front of him, “to a fabulous night!” She raised her shot glass. Jonathan grabbed his and smiled.

  “To being happy,” he amended. They both slammed their shots on the counter before tipping them back. He set it down and felt the burn. He chased it with his beer. She grabbed the drink and started towards the dance floor.

  “I’ll wait here.” He stopped at the edge of the dance floor. There was a bar top wrapped around the railings that created the dance floor area. He found a
n empty spot and Paxton set her drink down.

  “Don’t you wanna dance with me?” She gave a little pouting face and batted her eyelashes.

  “You know I don’t dance. I just brought you here to make sure you didn’t drive or do anything stupid.”

  She feigned being hurt by the comment. “Please?”

  Jonathan shook his head. She took a step on the floor and turned to face him. She did a little hip shaking and asked again. “You sure you don’t want to dance with me?”

  “I’ll dance with you sugar,” a familiar voice came behind her. She turned around and saw Duke’s face. She smiled and hugged him.

  He looked up at Jonathan. “If you want to go I can watch her. I will make sure she gets home,” Duke offered.

  “Are you okay to drive?”

  “No but I’m here with some buddies. We have a DD.” He staggered a bit as Paxton pulled on him trying to get him on the dance floor. She quickly gave up and stood there.

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah, we’re good.” Duke smiled and grabbed Paxton’s hand and led her to the middle.

  He didn’t want to wait for Jonathan to agree. He just wanted Paxton to have some fun. He was thoroughly shocked when he saw her heading to the dance floor. She knew this was Ella’s favorite place and he figured it would be too much of a reminder for her.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” he leaned in to her as they got on the dance floor.

  “I needed to get out.” She grabbed ahold of his shoulders trying to reach his ear to make sure he heard her.

  The music overtook her and she just wanted to dance. She needed to fill a void. She pressed herself up against him. She didn’t care about boundaries any longer. She didn’t care that Ella wasn’t here and that Jack left her. Duke stilled for a fraction of a second as she rubbed against him.

  “Let’s get some drinks,” he said a few moments later. They headed back to where she saw a few of his buddies hanging out. She hadn’t seen them in over a year.

  They all greeted her with hugs and kisses on the cheeks. They were glad to see her. They ordered a few rounds. Paxton took in their conversations. The boys were talking about the gym and what was going on in their lives. Paxton smiled and continued drinking. She knew she had to start drinking water soon otherwise she would regret it in the morning.

  “Dance!” She finally had enough talking. He turned and gave her a look stating he knew how drunk she was considering she did not like to dance. Paxton didn’t care. The DJ was playing an array of music and she just wanted to move.

  “Let’s go beautiful,” he said. She grabbed his shirt and led him back to the packed dance floor.

  They went to the middle of the crowd. They danced wildly with each other somehow always maintaining some sort of physical contact with each other. They were enjoying each other’s company and it almost felt like old times when Jack and Ella were with them. Paxton was enjoying herself for the first time in what seemed like a long time. She turned and gave Duke a little booty shake and laughed as she turned back around. She found Duke laughing with her. She noticed that he was having a great time as well.

  A slower Enrique Iglesias song came on, Paxton instantly recognized it. It was a breather song as Paxton saw it. The DJ had been playing dance-pop music for about twenty minutes. On Top of You slowed it down but still had a good beat to it. It was one of her favorite songs.

  Duke pulled her in closer as they started to sway to the music. Paxton felt something change in that moment. She listened to the song as they danced and she felt the mood between them shift to something more serious, something almost primal and sex-driven.

  It felt good to be close to someone who wanted her. One who didn’t say harsh words to her and leave her broken on the floor. Their bodies were melting together as one.

  She noticed how well she fit against him. How much she needed someone to hold her. Her hands traveled down his back and she looked up at him. There was a longing in his eyes and she could see how badly he wanted her in that moment whether it was alcohol induced or not. Duke was the only thing she saw. Her heart skipped a beat. He pulled her in and grabbed her face as he hungrily kissed her. She returned his kiss with the same ferocity. The hunger and loneliness drove them. The kiss was all she needed to know that she wasn’t alone. That primal need rose in her and her hands skimmed under his shirt along his pant line. It was unknown territory to her. She felt his abs contract as he started to pull away. Their contact broke and they stood there breathlessly looking at each other. Paxton saw the need in his eyes as well.

  She took a step closer pressing up against him and planted a soft kiss on the side of his neck. His head dropped to her hair and he took a deep breath.

  “Let’s get out of here.” He grabbed her hand and headed off the dance floor.

  As they reached the group, they were all staring. “Let’s go. We need to get out of here,” he said in a husky voice.

  The guys stared at him then back at Paxton. She noticed the looks on their faces. They were in shock at what they saw. They all grabbed their jackets from the barstools. They headed out in silence but Duke kept a grip on her hand. Occasionally on the walk to the parking garage, he glanced down with a burning gaze. She knew what they started on the dance floor was not over.

  The guys talked on the ride home. One by one they were dropped off until it was just Sage, Duke and Paxton. Paxton found herself nestled in the back with Duke. They didn’t face each other but their bodies were entwined with each other. His fingers ran up and down her arm. Sage kept looking in the rear-view mirror. She was sure that he and Duke were having a silent conversation as she found Duke staring back at Sage.

  He pulled up to the house and parked it. Duke was out the same moment it was thrown in park. He held his hand out reaching to help Paxton out of the car. Paxton quickly went around him.

  “Thanks,” she said to Sage through the window. He smiled but when Duke went to follow she heard him start talking to Duke.

  She didn’t want to hear what they were saying. She rushed to the house and went inside. She felt off balance when she tried to make it up the stairs. The alcohol was definitely working against her. She struggled to get up the stairs. She paused when she made it to the top. She held on to the railing. She had to let herself adjust to the dark. She heard the front door shut. She turned to see Duke taking two stairs at the time. His hunger seemed to sober him. He reached her and kissed her again. His fists wrapped into her hair. She closed her eyes and let him lead the way to the bedroom without breaking the kiss.

  They hit the closed door and he picked her up. Paxton wrapped her legs around him as he fumbled for the door knob. The door finally let go of her back and swung open. He took a few big strides and laid her on the bed. He stopped for a moment catching his breath. She took in the sight of Duke.

  She stood and grabbed the hem of his shirt. She looked up at him as if she were waiting for his permission that they were really doing this. He gave a slight nod and she ripped the shirt up and over his head. He then took over and threw it on the ground. She gasped at the sight of him. He must have hit the gym hard since the last time she saw him half naked. Of course they were in a completely different setting but his abs were more cut than they had been back a couple summers ago. He stepped out of his shoes and took his socks off. It was the first time she noticed how sexy his feet were. She just knew Duke was looking like a poster boy for what sexy men looked like. The jeans hugged his quads and went into a boot cut down to his bare feet.

  Duke stepped forward and turned her around. He undid the chain that held the back of her dress together. He turned Paxton again, sliding the dress off her shoulders and to the floor. It was then his confirmation of no bra was confirmed. She wore a lacy, black thong and still had the leopard print heels on. She stepped out of it and he leaned in kissing her shoulder and wrapping an arm around her as he backed her up to the bed and laid her down. He stood up still slightly leaning against the bed. Duke knew that Pa
xton was the most beautiful, sexy thing in his life right now. Jack was a fool for letting her go. He undid the belt he had on and slid it out. He noticed Paxton enjoying the show. He slowly undid his jeans and let them fall to the floor. Paxton inhaled sharply as he was left with boxer briefs that didn’t leave much to the imagination. He saw her bit her lip and wanted to be the one doing that.

  He leaned himself down on the bed, holding himself up above her. He kissed her then slowly kissed her leaving a trail of kissed on her cheek, her neck. He went down her shoulder and along her clavicle. Paxton closed her eyes as she took in the slight tingling sensation his kisses left. He trailed down to her belly and anticipation grew within her. Her hands went to his hair. His planted a kiss on her hip across her panty line. His hands reached and grabbed her thong and slowly pulled it down, trailing more kisses down her legs. As he pulled it off, he stood and looked at her again.

  “You are so sexy,” his voice was rough, full of need.

  It was something Paxton found herself wanting to fill. He needed this as much as she did. She bit her lip again. She glanced down and saw the bulge that seemed to grow within the last few minutes. She instinctively rubbed her legs together again hoping to ease some of the need she felt. He grabbed her leg behind the knee and spread her legs, placing him between them. He leaned over her holding himself up. She saw him searching her face waiting for permission to take it further.

  “Please Duke.” She ran her fingers through his hair.

  She pulled herself up to kiss him and Paxton felt him slowly enter her. He grunted as he let himself slide all the way in her. They were still for a few moments as if there was an adjustment period. Paxton knew there was no going back now. He slowly started moving, making sure he was gentle with her. Paxton let him take care of her. Her hands pulled him down closer. She loved the feeling of him against her. She kissed his shoulder. Her breathing quickened and the thrusting became faster. He took his time to get this point but now their primal needs were taking over. Their breathing became heavier. Her fingers dug into his back. She felt the sinewy muscles working below them.